AirAsia promises low fares in India, expects launch in March-April

Hopeful of launching flights in India in the next two-three months, Air Asia chief Tony Fernandes says the airline would introduce ‘dramatically’ low fares in the country, which would be the cheapest in the market and take air travel to the...

"I think we are coming very close and March-April should be the time when we should begin the India operations,"

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When India opened its ailing aviation sector to foreign airlines last September, not many thought the sector, which is reeling under heavy losses, would attract foreign investment. A few months down the line and AirAsia, a successful budget carrier based in Malaysia, has tied up with Indian conglomerate the Tata Group and another Indian investor to set up a new airline called...

AirAsia India launched full tilt into the Indian market, scheduling to open bookings on Friday night with a dramatic, low fare of 990 rupees ($17) for a flight between Bangalore, India’s technology center, and Goa, the country’s party hub. The fare includes taxes. The Indian unit of the low-cost Malaysia-based airline could not have chosen a better opening as Goa is a popular...

AirAsia India today announced it has received the crucial 'No Objection Certificate' from the Civil Aviation Ministry, with the Malaysian parent company's chief Tony Fernandes terming the development as "very exciting". Though AirAsia India NOC was issued by the Ministry last week, this was the first formal statement by the AirAsia CEO on microblogging site Twitter. "I am...

Low-cost carrier AirAsia on Sunday announced industry leader Ratan Tata as Chief Advisor to the board of its Indian venture and promised ‘Nano’ airfares once it begins operating flights in the country. Announcing Mr. Tata’s name as the Chief Advisor, Malaysia-based AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes also said that the name of Chairman for AirAsia India board would also be disclosed...

(Source: AirAsia Berhad ) Fly from KL to Goa, India only with AirAsia, all-in-fares from as low as RM149* one way SEPANG, 2 June 2015 AirAsia Berhad, the world's best low cost airline for six consecutive years is rapidly expanding its extensive flight network with the announcement of its fourth unique route within a month, connecting Kuala Lumpur to Goa, India with 3 times...

AirAsia India received its first aircraft, a brand new Airbus A320, at the Chennai airport on Saturday . The 180-seater all-economy configuration aircraft takes AirAsia India closer to launching its low cost service in the domestic sector. According to a press release from AirAsia, the A320 from Airbus’ factory in Toulouse, France, was received with a ‘water cannon salute’ as...

Mumbai: AirAsia India plans to have a 10-aircraft fleet within a year of start of operations and these planes would be drawn from A-320 family of aircraft ordered by the AirAsia Group. On March 22, AirAsia India received its first A-320 aircraft configured in an all-economy layout with 180 seats. “We will be launching flights in about two to three months. We would soon be...

Airasia India A320(WL) SMOOTH landing Chennai

Airasia India A320(WL) SMOOTH landing Chennai

AirAsia India Event

published:22 Mar 2015

AirAsia India Event

AirAsia India Event

published:22 Mar 2015

views:112

AirAsia India on Saturday unveiled its fourth aircraft with a livery dedicated to JRD Tata as a mark of respect to the pioneer of civil aviation in the Indian sub-continent.
The aircraft has been christened as \'The Pioneer\'.
The livery of AirAsia India’s fourth aircraft dons an image of JRD Tata with a Puss Moth, the aircraft he flew on October 15, 1932, leading to the birth of Tata Airlines and starting civil aviation in the sub-continent.
Registration: VT-JRT...

AirAsia India Event

published:22 Mar 2015

views:112

AirAsia India on Saturday unveiled its fourth aircraft with a livery dedicated to JRD Tata as a mark of respect to the pioneer of civil aviation in the Indian sub-continent.
The aircraft has been christened as \'The Pioneer\'.
The livery of AirAsia India’s fourth aircraft dons an image of JRD Tata with a Puss Moth, the aircraft he flew on October 15, 1932, leading to the birth of Tata Airlines and starting civil aviation in the sub-continent.
Registration: VT-JRT...

AirAsia India to break-even by May-June: CEO, AirAsia

published:05 Feb 2015

AirAsia India to break-even by May-June: CEO, AirAsia

AirAsia India to break-even by May-June: CEO, AirAsia

published:05 Feb 2015

views:8

The original deadline for breaking even for AirAsia India was in November 2014
Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/dB28W5UndwbOqmIu5kwM5J/AirAsia-India-to-breakeven-by-MayJune-says-CEO.html?utm_source=copy...

AirAsia India to break-even by May-June: CEO, AirAsia

published:05 Feb 2015

views:8

The original deadline for breaking even for AirAsia India was in November 2014
Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/dB28W5UndwbOqmIu5kwM5J/AirAsia-India-to-breakeven-by-MayJune-says-CEO.html?utm_source=copy...

AirAsia India on Saturday unveiled its fourth aircraft with a livery dedicated to JRD Tata as a mark of respect to the pioneer of civil aviation in the Indian sub-continent.
The aircraft has been christened as \'The Pioneer\'.
The livery of AirAsia India’s fourth aircraft dons an image of JRD Tata wi

The original deadline for breaking even for AirAsia India was in November 2014
Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/dB28W5UndwbOqmIu5kwM5J/AirAsia-India-to-breakeven-by-MayJune-says-CEO.html?utm_source=copy

VT-ATB Airbus A320 of AirAsia India prepares for its flight I51217 to Chennai. It was a very interesting flight, but unfortunately, I do not have a landing video :(
More here: http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/airlinersindia-ftopic14061.html

Link to trip report: http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/airlinersindia-ftopic14061.html
VT-ATB Airbus A320-200 of AirAsia India departs for its flight I51217 to Chennai. There isn\'t a landing video to this flight :(

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The Tata Group-owned airline Vistara, is in it for the long haul. Giam Ming Toh, the Chief Operating Officer of the airline says Indian macros are look

Mittu Chandilya CEO AirAsia India used the in-flight announcement system to thank all passengers who had flown with him and shook hands with each one.

duration:3:27

published:13 Jun 2014

updated:30 Aug 2014

views:1068

AirAsia India

This article or section contains close paraphrasing of one or more non-free copyrighted sources. Ideas in this article should be expressed in an original manner. More details may be available on the talk page.(April 2013)

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AirAsia India[1] is a proposed Malaysian-Indianlow cost carrier. It is a subsidiary of AirAsia, which is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia.[2] AirAsia announced its Indian low-cost subsidiary on 19 February 2013. The airline would be operated as a joint venture between Tata Sons and AirAsia, with AirAsia holding 49% of the airline. Lakshmi Mittal's son in law Amit Bhatia will take up 21% and Tata Sons will take up a stake of 30% in the airline. The joint venture would also mark Tata's return to aviation industry after 60 years.[3][4]

AirAsia is the first foreign airline to set up a subsidiary in India.[5] The airliner will operate with the world's lowest unit cost of 1.25 ({{#invoke:Math|precision_format| 0.0215*100 | 1}}¢ US)/available seat kilometre and a passenger break-even load factor of 52%. It hedges 100% of its fuel requirements for the next three years and achieves an aircraft turnaround time of 25 minutes.[6]

Contents

The origins of the airline can be tracked back to October 2012, when the airline's management said that they were keen to have more presence in India if the aviation environment and tax structure were conducive and friendly for low-cost airline operations. With the Indian government allowing a foreign direct investment of up to 49%, the airline CEO tweeted "Fantastic news that India has opened up investments to foreign airlines." He said that it was now easier for him to set up an airline in India.[7] In February 2013, AirAsia submitted an application to the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), through its investment arm, AirAsia Investment Limited, to seek approval for commencing its operations in India.[8] AirAsia wanted to take up a stake of 49% in the airline, which was the maximum allowed by the Indian government at that time. AirAsia's chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said that he had been closely observing the developments in India over the past few years and felt that it was the perfect time for him to set up an Indian version of his airline.[9] AirAsia said that it was seeking government approval to establish a joint venture with two Indian companies, namely Tata Sons and Amit Bhatia owned Telstra Tradeplace. Tata sons would represent the airline with two non-executive directors in the airline's board. AirAsia planned to being operations to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India with Chennai International Airport as its main base.[10] Soon after AirAsia announced its Indian subsidiary, the shares of SpiceJet, an airline that already had a major presence in Chennai, went down by over 4.5%.[11] Amber Dubey of KPMG India said that the introduction of AirAsia would cause another price war, which would ultimately lead to an increase in air traffic and some consolidation in the Indian aviation sector.[12]

AirAsia initially invested an amount of US$ 50 million in the airline. The airline wished to begin operations from Chennai and expand its network in South India, to where AirAsia already operated flights from Malaysia.[13] Tony Fernandes said that that the Tatas know India very well and have a good reputation. A tie-up with the company would help AirAsia operate efficiently. Fernandes said that he would concentrate mainly on the one million south Indians who travel by rail.[14][15]The Hindu reported on 22 February, that the finance ministry would announce its decision on AirAsia on 6 March. According to news article, the proposal was listed in the agenda and a board meeting was scheduled for 6 March.[5] In preparation for its operations in India, AirAsia struck deals with online and offline travel agents throughout the country. Previously, limited distribution of sales had affected the airline's performance in India and AirAsia wanted to avoid that with its Indian subsidiary by all means. AirAsia started selling its tickets through MakeMyTrip, Yatra.com and many other Indian travel websites.[16] On 3 March 2013, the FIPB officially permitted AirAsia to rent/lease aircraft and to carry cargo on its scheduled flights. The airline then applied for a permission to schedule aircraft and transport passengers,[17] which the FIPB accepted on 6 March.[18]

Less than two months after AirAsia announced its plans to start an airline in India, the joint venture was established on 28 March 2013 as AirAsia (India) Pvt. Ltd.[19] In April, the airline started recruiting candidates for their cabin crew, and allowed captains and first officers to apply online for an interview in Bangalore. The airline required candidates to be able to fit into the AirAsia uniform, i.e, to have the appropriate body proportion.[20]

AirAsia's regional manager of India is Suresh Nair.[21] Prior to the airline's formation, Tony Fernandes announced that he would like Ratan Tata to be the Chairman of the airline, however the latter refused, though he later consented to being the Chief Advisor to the AirAsia India management board.[22][23] In March 2013, he announced that it was someone from South India who would be the CEO.[24]

On 15 May 2013, the CEO of AirAsia India was revealed by Fernandes, who is Chennai-born Singaporean management consultant Mittu Chandilya.[25] A month later, on 17 June, S. Ramadorai, the Non-Executive Vice President of the Indian software firm Tata Consultancy Services, was appointed as the Chairman of the airline.[26]

AirAsia offers "Snack Attack," a buy on board programme offering food and drinks for purchase.[27] In 2011, the AirAsia group took the first steps towards starting its own frequent-flyer programme. The airline had signed an agreement to start a joint venture with financial services firm Tune Money to launch a programme called "BIG". Under this programme it issues loyalty points to AirAsia customers and third-party merchants. Points can then be used to redeem AirAsia flights.[28]